On The Wheel

On The Wheel

The Spanish track cycling pursuit matadors are holding near-perfect formation deep into their ride on the roulette wheel that is the velodrome. The wheel is in play and the gamble is paying off, so far. With all four matadors still in the game, anything is possible

davidt photography as art

Related Items

The Catch

The Catch

The women's track cycling team pursuit is like all track cycling pursuit races, it's about the time, but sometimes something more important comes into play. It wasn't that TeamGB caught and passed the Chinese pursuit team, that was expected, it was the way they did it and what it revealed felt like history in the making

The extra time it took to go around the outside of the Chinese pursuit team almost certainly cost the girls the team pursuit title but the psychological impact inflicted was far harder to measure. Up until that point, the Chinese team had stuck to their schedule and kept their formation intact, once the catch was made the team simply imploded as the lead rider attempted to match the pace of TeamGB

Upping of the pace to match TeamGB combined with the almost tribal roar of the home crowd was too much, and, within half a lap, shattered the Chinese team formation. Scattering the other team members all around the velodrome and eventually finishing in total disarray. Each individual track rider finishing the distance alone, demonstrating to everyone present that absolutely no one messes with our girls

davidt photography as art

Vive la France

Vive la France

The French cycling pursuit team have to be the most stylish cyclists in the world, the track team are nothing less than a complete living, breathing, work of art in motion. Every detail of their kit, from their socks to their bikes is beautiful. When it comes to equipment or kit I don't covet much, but the Look track bikes have to be the most beautiful bikes in the world, bar none, so I will make an exception. I want one

Welcome to the Velodrome

Welcome to the Velodrome

As we all stand, stamp, shout and cheer for our track cycling heroes in the electric atmosphere of the velodrome, imagine the world-view of the fittest and fastest track guys in the world as they ride beyond the very edge of their abilities to achieve greatness

The Team GB cycling pursuit quartet is down to three and this is the last lap, every 1000th of every second is vital in this effort, the fastest time of the year so far. There is no hiding place, the velodrome has turned from a cycling dream of speed and glory into a mental and physical torture chamber and only when every last drop of energy and vitality has been wrung out of every muscle tissue in the body can the attempt be considered adequate

In this precise moment, everything is forgotten, nothing else matters, not a single stray distracting thought can be allowed to enter or exist in the mind of any of the riders now. The brain is silenced of its endless whingeing of pain thresholds and necessary physical limitations and is instead put to use searching every last crevice for the useable energy needed to fuel the final push to the finish line. With the possible exception of Wiggo, (centre) who's probably just deciding what to have for his tea